COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Colorado Colorado Springs volleyball team will bring a three-match winning streak back home to the Gallogly Events Center for weekend matches against Colorado Christian and No. 22 Colorado Mines. The Mountain Lions (11-7, 6-4 RMAC) will face the Cougars (14-7, 6-4 RMAC) on Friday at 7 p.m., and the Orediggers (15-4, 9-1 RMAC) on Saturday at 5 p.m.
The Mountain Lions are tied with Colorado Christian in the RMAC standings with eight matches left in the regular season while Colorado Mines is three matches ahead. It's the only meeting for UCCS against Christian and Mines this season, and any ties between the teams at the end of the regular season will be determined by the head-to-head result this weekend.
Saturday's match will be a matchup of two of the top liberos in the RMAC.
Natasha Habert is third in the conference with 5.20 digs per set, behind Mines' Taryn Huber with 5.42 digs per set for second in the league. Habert is on pace to break the UCCS digs average record this season and is fifth in career digs with 1,149. She needs 257 to tie for fourth.
UCCS leads the RMAC with 14.20 kills per set and is third with a .219 hitting percentage and 12.96 assists per set.
Alyssa Brinton in second in the conference with 3.99 kills per set and
Morgan Evans is second with 11.30 assists per set. Evans moved into fourth in career assists and has 2,468. She needs 343 to tie for third and has finished with 50 or more assists in the last three matches.
The Mountain Lions have swept the Cougars in the last two matches and lead the overall series 28-17.
Cassidy Bush had eight kills and three blocks in the last meeting last year in Lakewood, Colo., as UCCS hit .324. Christian features one of the top blocking defenses in the RMAC this season with 2.13 per set with two student-athletes among the top seven blockers in the conference.
UCCS will be looking for its first win against the Orediggers since 2012 when the Mountain Lions swept Colorado Mines. The Orediggers are hitting .235 as a team this season and have won 10 of their last 12 matches of the season. Ellie Monarch is third in the conference with .346 hitting percentage, and Alanna Winfield is sixth with .299 and fourth with 3.70 kills per set.
Fans unable to attend at the Gallogly Events Center will be able to follow the game for free with live stats, live audio and live video with links through GoMountainLions.com. Local xfinity subscribers will also be able to watch the match on channel 20.
